SCIENCE 351A Introduction to Weather Dynamics (5 Units)
Syllabus Summer Quarter 2016
Instructor: Dr. Vladimir Gasparyan Science III, room 306 phone: 661.654.6004 fax: 661.654.2693 email: vgasparyan@csub. edu
Meeting times: None - this is an on-line class.
Meeting place: None.
Blackboard: Enrolled students must self-enroll in Blackboard - there is no access code.
Availability: I check my Blackboard messages and discussions with some frequency throughout the day during the week, and less frequently on weekends.
Course Text and Investigation Manual 2015-2016 & Summer 2016 (a “bundle” with the textbook): Weather Studies Student ePackage Access Card 2015-2016 ISBN 978-1-940033-43-3.
Catalog This is an introductory course with a large on-line Description: component on the fundamentals of atmospheric science.
Current weather data are accessed via the Internet, and learning activities are keyed to the day's weather. General topics are studied such as how one characterizes various phenomena and meteorological effects, and how these are measured. This course may not be used to satisfy physics major or minor requirements. Meets the general education upper division theme I requirement. Prerequisite: completion of lower division physical science and mathematics general education requirements.
AMS Website: Students will have access to the American Meteorological Society website for the course. The username and password will be released to students via Blackboard. The website contains useful resources such as surface weather stations symbols, satellite images, practice quizzes, etc.
Reading: Class notes of the chapters will be posted on Blackboard. These notes come largely (but certainly not exclusively) from the textbook, and are not meant to cover absolutely everything in the book. The notes simply point out some salient features of the class material. The AMS has provided Power Point presentations associated with all the chapters in the
textbook. These presentations will also be available through Blackboard.
The relevant chapters in the textbook (see the Schedule of Activities), as well as the class notes are required reading.
Discussions: Questions regarding class material must be posted using the threaded discussions tool in Blackboard. Please use the messages utility on Blackboard only for private matters.
Email: Please use the Blackboard messages utility for all matters regarding this class.
Homework: This refers to the exercises in the Investigations Manual. See Schedule of Activities for two Investigations A and B. Further Details will be provided in Blackboard.
Quizzes: There will be weekly 15-minute chapter quizzes to be taken via Blackboard (see schedule below). No make-up quizzes will be given.
Quizzes are multiple choice tests of ten questions each. See the AMS website for (self-scored) practice quizzes.
Students can take the quizzes any time, but they *must* submit their answers Electronically before 11:59 PM.
Exams: There will be two 60-minute exams to be taken via Blackboard. The format will be the same as the quizzes, but will cover four chapters each plus other material. See the Schedule of Activities.
Paper: This is a seven paper (1 1/2 spacing, 12 font maximum) due the last week of classes (08/01/2016 no later than 12 noon). Details to be provided via Blackboard.
Final grade Quizzes: 20% determination: Exam 1: 10% Exam 2: 10%
Homework: 45% Paper: 15%
This class is not graded on a curve. The following relation will be used for assigning a final grade:
90-100% A 80-89% B 70-79% C
56-69% D 00-55% F
Plus and minus (+/-) grades will be assigned at the discretion of the instructor.
Behavior: *** You absolutely *must* use a polite, considerate, and appropriate tone in your Discussions postings.
*** You *must* follow proper email etiquette
*** Students who do not adhere to these rules will be dropped from the course.
Anyone found cheating will automatically get an F in the course.
Schedule of activities:
NOTE: This schedule is subject to change
Date Activity and/or Reading Assignment
** 1st Week: 06/20 - 06/24 ** M 06/20/2016 Introduction to the course.
Chapter 1: Monitoring the Weather Weather and Climate Sources of Weather Information Weather Systems and Weather Maps Describing the State of the Atmosphere
T 06/21/2016 Weather Satellite Imagery Weather Radar Sky Watching
W 06/22/2016 Investigation 1A (both parts) due Investigation 1B (both parts) due
Submit answers to Investigations any time before 11:59 PM Correct answers released on Thursday
Th 06/23/2016 Chapter 2: Atmosphere: Origin, Composition and Structure Evolution of the Atmosphere Investigating the Atmosphere
Chapter 1 quiz. Take the quiz anytime but answers *must* be submitted before 11:59 PM.
F 06/24/2016 Monitoring the Atmosphere
Temperature Profile of the Atmosphere The Ionosphere and the Aurora
**2nd Week: 06/27 – 07/01**
M 06/27/2016 Investigation 2A due Investigation 2B due
Correct answers released on Tuesday
T 06/28/2016 Chapter 3: Solar and Terrestrial Radiation Electromagnetic Spectrum Radiation Laws Input of Solar Radiation Solar Radiation and the Atmosphere Stratospheric Ozone Shield
Chapter 2 quiz. Take the quiz anytime but answers *must* be
submitted before 11:59 PM.
W 06 /29/2016 Solar Radiation and Earth's Surface Global Solar Radiation Budget Outgoing Infrared Radiation Monitoring Radiation
Last day to withdraw without a “W”
Th 06/30/2016 Investigation 3A due Investigation 3B due
Correct answers released on Friday
F 07/01/2016 Chapter 4: Heat, Temperature, and Atmospheric Circulation Distinguishing Temperature and Heat Heat Transfer Processes Thermal Response and Specific Heat Heat Imbalance: Atmosphere versus Earth's Surface
Chapter 3 quiz. Take the quiz anytime but answers *must* be
submitted before 11:59 PM.
** 3rd Week: 07/04 - 07/08 ** M 07/04/2016 Heat Imbalance: Tropics versus Middle and High Latitudes
Why Weather? Variation of Air Temperature
T 07/05/2016 Investigation 4A due Investigation 4B due
Correct answers released on Wednesday.
W 07/06/2016 Chapter 4 quiz. Take the quiz anytime but answers *must* be submitted before 11:59 PM.
Th 07/07/2016 Watch video “Chasing el Ninno”. You need QuickTime to view
F 07/08/2016 Exam 1. Chapters 1-4, and video “Chasing el Ninno”. Students must submit answers before 11:59 PM
** 4th Week: 07/11-07/15**
M 07/11/2016 Chapter 5: Air Pressure Defining Air Pressure Air Pressure Measurement Air Pressure Units Variation in Air Pressure with Altitude
T 07/12/2016 Horizontal Variations in Air Pressure Highs and Lows The Gas Law Expansional Cooling and Compressional Warming
W 07/13/2016 Investigation 5A due Investigation 5B due
Correct answers released on Thursday
Th 07/14/2016 Chapter 6: Humidity, Saturation, and Stability Global Water Cycle How Humid is it? Monitoring Water Vapor
Chapter 5 quiz. Take the quiz anytime but answers *must* be
submitted before 11:59 PM.
F 07/15/2016 How Air Becomes Saturated Atmospheric Stability Lifting Processes
**5th Weak: 07/18-07/22 **
M 07/18/2016 Investigation 6A due Investigation 6B due
Correct answers released on Tuesday
T 07/19/2016 Chapter 7: Clouds, Precipitation, and Weather Radar Cloud Formation Cloud Classification Fog Precipitation Processes
Chapter 6 quiz. Take the quiz anytime but answers *must* be submitted before 11:59 PM.
Last day to withdraw for serious and compelling reason
W 07/20/2016 Forms of Precipitation Acid Deposition Weather Radar: Locating Precipitation Measuring Precipitation
Th 07/21/2016 Investigation 7A due Investigation 7B due
Correct answers released on Friday
F 07/22/2016 Chapter 15: Climate and Climate Change Earth's Climate System Climate Boundary Conditions Global Climate Patterns The Climatic Record
Chapter 7 quiz. Take the quiz anytime but answers *must* be submitted before 11:59 PM.
** 6th Weak: 07/25-07/29 **
M 07/25/2016 Lessons of the Climate Record Causes of Climate Change The Climate Future Potential Impacts of Global Climate Change
T 07/26/2016 Investigation 15A due
Investigation 15B due Correct answers released on Wednesday
W 07/27/2016 Chapter 15 quiz. Take the quiz anytime but answers *must* be submitted before 11:59 PM.
Th 07/28/2016 Watch video “An Inconvenient Truth” You need QuickTime to view
F 07/29/2016 Second exam. Chapters 5-7 & 15, and video “An Inconvenient Truth'' Students must submit answers before 11:59 PM Correct answers released on Saturday
** 7th Weak: 08/01-08/05**
M 08/01/2016 - Last Day of Classes - Term paper due no later than 12 noon
M 08/05/2016 Grades available